Communicable Disease Health & Safety Plan

The Ministries of Health, Child Care, and Education recognizes that COVID-19 continues to be prevalent. At this time, public health data indicates relative stability in the severity of health outcomes. As such, the guidelines for COVID-19 will be similar to other respiratory infections and rely primarily on self-management – unless otherwise notified.

For the 2022/2023 school year, elementary students in the Lower and Upper Elementary Classes (Honeybees, Bluebirds, & Goldfinches) will continue to follow the province’s K to 12 Communicable Diseases Guidelines while the Primary Room (All Pre-K & Kindergarten students) will follow procedures per the BCCDC Guidance for Child Care Settings.

Our school remains vigilant in ensuring that we comply with the BCCDC’s Communicable Disease Guidelines. Our Communicable Disease Plan’s focus is on reducing the risk of transmission of communicable diseases (including COVID-19).

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To help keep our school community safe and healthy, please monitor for symptoms of illness regularly and keep your child at home when sick.

If your child is sick:

• Let us know and specify that the absence is illness-related when notifying your child’s absence. As supported by public health, families do not need to disclose if their child’s absence is specific to COVID-19. However, those who test positive for COVID-19 should be diligent in ensuring that the school is aware their absence is illness-related.
• Continue to follow public health guidance and recommendations.
• Contact us by email or leave a message: 604-465-3492.

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BCCDC GUIDELINES FOR SICK STAFF AND CHILDREN

Staff or children who are exhibiting COVID symptoms or other communicable disease are required to stay home until they feel well enough to return to regular activity.

Those experiencing COVID-19 symptoms can consult the When to Get Tested for COVID-19 resource or the B.C. Self-Assessment Tool provides more information on
whether you should get a test for COVID-19. Those unsure or concerned about their symptoms should connect with a health care provider or call 8-1-1.

Staff, children, or other persons in the school who test positive for COVID-19 shall follow the guidance on the BCCDC website as to how long they should self-isolate. They can return to school when they no longer need to self-isolate as long as symptoms have improved, and they are well enough to participate in regular activities. A health care provider note (e.g., a doctor’s note) to confirm the health status of any individual is not required except for those who need support for medical accommodation as per usual practice.

The school observes WorkSafeBC Communicable Disease Prevention guidance. The school provides staff with communications, orientation and training on communicable disease prevention measures at our facilities. Staff are informed of and are provided associated training when changes occur to the communicable disease prevention measures.

VACCINES

Students and staff are encouraged to ensure they are up to date on all recommended vaccines for other communicable diseases, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Schools are encouraged to share evidence-based information and promote opportunities to be vaccinated in partnership with public health and local Medical Health Officers.

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In addition to following BCCDC Guidelines, our school maintains safe environments for our staff and students with the following routines and measures:

ACCESS TO BUILDINGS

Staff, children, parents, and caregivers must not enter the school if they have symptoms of any communicable disease, including COVID-19. Signage is posted at the entrance reminding people not to enter the site if they have symptoms associated with COVID-19.

Visitors coming to the facility continue to be limited and prioritized to those supporting activities that are of benefit to student learning. A list of the date, names, and contact information is kept for all visitors who enter the school.

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Daily Health Screening: As per the province’s Health & Safety Guidelines, parents are required to screen children daily for the common cold, influenza, COVID-19, or other respiratory diseases prior to sending their child to school.

The school’s communication platform Beehively has an automated Health Screening feature that allows parents to answer these screening questions at home and submit it via email.

The Health Screening is emailed each scheduled school day at 5AM and again at 7AM as a reminder. It’s quick and easy and has only 4 steps:

1. Click on the email titled: Please fill out your daily Health Screening form
2. Click on the button labelled: Submit Health Screening
3. Answer the two questions. You will be asked if you or your child has the following symptoms (it is phrased this way because this is also the health screening for our staff). Common Cold (runny nose, cough or sneezing)• Fever (38.3 degrees Celsius) or  Chills in the past 24 hours • Cough or worsening of chronic cough •Difficulty breathing • Sore throat •Headaches or body aches •Extreme fatigue or tiredness • Diarrhea • Nausea or vomiting in the past 24 hours • Influenza (H1N1, etc.) • Other infectious or respiratory diseases (bronchitis, etc.)
4. Click Submit

Students will also be given visual checks at the door by teachers and those who show symptoms will not be able to enter. Please help keep our community safe and ease the concerns of other families in our school by observing the above guidelines. Your adherence to these guidelines is greatly appreciated.

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Protocol if a Student/Staff Develops Symptoms of Illness at School

If a student or staff member develops symptoms at school, the school will:

• Provide the student/staff with a mask if they don’t have one (exceptions should be made for students and staff who cannot wear masks for health or behavioural reasons, or if the person is experiencing gastrointestinal symptoms and are at risk of vomiting).
• Provide the student/staff with a space where they can wait comfortably that is separated from others. NOTE: Younger children will be supervised when separated from their class. Supervising staff shall wear a non-medical mask and face shield if they are unable to maintain physical distance, staff will avoid touching bodily fluids as much as possible, and practice diligent hand hygiene.
• Make arrangements for the student/staff to go home as soon as possible (e.g., contact student’s parent/caregiver for pick-up).
• Clean and disinfect the areas the student/staff used. All staff are responsible for facility cleaning and will clean and disinfect the surfaces/equipment that may have been in contact with bodily fluids with while ill (e.g., their desk in a classroom, the bathroom stall they used, etc.) prior to the surfaces/equipment being used by others.
• Request that the family seek guidance regarding testing for COVID-19, and stay home until symptoms have improved and they feel well enough to participate in all school-related activities

* In the event of an emergency, communicable disease prevention measures can be suspended to ensure for a timely, efficient, and safe response.

Return to School after Illness

Students and staff may return to school when they are free from symptoms and are able to resume regular activities.

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DROP-OFF & PICK-UP

We continue to practice strong traffic controls (limiting entrance to our school only to enrolled students and staff).

Please say your good-byes outside the school entrance door at arrival and wait at the outside door until your child is released to you at dismissal.

We are continuing top stagger entry. Please drop off students at the correct time for their class. If you have more than one, please drop off all at the earliest class time.

Students and parents will be greeted verbally using a bow or namaste instead of handshakes or hugs. Parents may enter the premises on a limited, as needed basis. Those who enter must must practice physical distancing and hand hygiene.

MASKS

Although masks are no longer required, the school respects that mask wearing is a personal or family/caregiver choice for staff and students.  The school recognizes that students, staff, and other adults may choose to continue to wear a mask because they are more comfortable wearing a mask or because they, or someone in their family, may be at higher risk and want to take extra precautions. Some may choose to continue to wear them throughout the school day, or only during specific activities. The school respects and supports choice. Any bullying or other disrespectful behaviour or conduct related to personal mask choice is unacceptable.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING

Staff and students will be encouraged to respect others personal space (the distance from which a person feels comfortable being next to another person). Although strict physical distancing is no longer required, the school will continue to create space between people, including:

• Managing flow of people in common areas, including hallways to minimize crowding and allow people to pass through easily
• Preventing crowding at pick-up and drop-off times
• Reminding students and staff about respecting others’ personal space, using visual supports, signage, prompts and video modelling as necessary
• Using available space to spread people out where possible
• Taking students outside as much as possible

SPACE ARRANGEMENTS

Our school continues to implement environment configurations as preventative measures to reduce communicable diseases as well as strategies that prevent crowding during class transition and break times as follows:

• Maximizing space between students and staff.
• Staggering start/stop times, or recess/snack, lunch and class transition times.
• Regular learning activities that bring together multiple classes (e.g., examinations, physical education) are spread out across different spaces whenever possible.

GENERAL VENTILATION AND AIR CIRCULATION

The school’s multiple HVAC systems are serviced regularly and were overhauled in 2020 to hospital grade filtration (HEPA & UV) and continuously circulate the air. In addition, all classrooms are “aired out”;  doors/windows are opened as much as possible, security, weather,  and indoor climate permitting.

HYGIENE PRACTICES

 

Hand hygiene is incorporated into our daily routines and schedule (eg. Washing/sanitizing hands upon entering facilities, washing hands before and after the use of communal materials, wiping down desks, regular hand washing reminders, and the like).

Rigorous hand washing with plain soap and water is required for all students upon entering the school. Our school is equipped with several sinks and hand sanitizers are placed in every room, enabling easy and accessible hand hygiene practices.

According to the BCCDC, hand hygiene is the most effective way to reduce the spread of illness. We recognize that students and staff can pick up and spread germs easily from objects, surfaces, food and people. As such, all staff and students are required to practice diligent hand hygiene. We ask parents to teach and reinforce these practices at home.

Note that hand sanitizers (due to alcohol content and other ingredients) are used under the supervision of adults, and are not easily accessible within younger children’s reach (Primary Room). The guidelines from the BCCDC recommend using soap and water with hand sanitizer to be used if soap and water are not available.

How we practice diligent hand hygiene:

• Wash hands with plain soap and water for at least 20 seconds. According to the BCCDC, antibacterial soap is not needed for COVID-19.
• Alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60% alcohol will be used If sinks are not available (e.g., students and staff are outdoors, etc.)
• Soap and water are preferred when hands are visibly dirty rather than hand sanitizers.
• Staff remind students to wash hands regularly and emphasize the importance of diligent hand hygiene, assisting them as needed.
• Washing supplies are well stocked at all times including soap, paper towels and where appropriate, alcohol-based hand rub with a minimum of 60% alcohol.

Staff are required to wash their hands regularly throughout the day, including:

• When they arrive and before they go home.
• Before and after handling and serving food (raw, cooked or pre-packaged) or helping a child with their lunch.
• Before and after giving or applying medication or ointment to a child or self.
• After assisting children with change of clothing/shoes.
• After assisting a children in washroom duties.
• After using the toilet.
  After contact with body fluids (e.g., runny noses, spit, vomit, blood).
• Before donning and after doffing personal protective equipment.
• After cleaning tasks.
• After handling garbage.
• Whenever hands are visibly dirty.
• When moving between different learning environments (e.g., outdoor-indoor transitions, from the gym to the classroom).

Staff support children to wash their hands regularly throughout the day, including:

• When they arrive and before they go home.
• Before and after eating and drinking.
• After a change of clothes/shoes.
• After using the toilet.
• After playing outside.
• After sneezing or coughing.
• Whenever hands are visibly dirty.
• When moving between different learning environments (e.g., outdoor-indoor transitions, from the gym to the classroom).
• Before using masks, if necessary.

RESPIRATORY ETIQUETTE FOR STAFF & STUDENTS

Staff will role model, practice, and instruct students to:

• Cough or sneeze into their elbow sleeve or a tissue.
• Throw away used tissues and immediately perform hand hygiene.
• Not touch their eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands.
• Use a mask, if necessary.
• Refrain from sharing any food, drinks, unwashed utensils.

MATERIALS, SUPPLIES & FOOD

• Students’ work/belongings are stored in individual files/containers.
• There is no sharing of cups, water bottles or other personal items.
• Personal items are labelled with the children’s names to prevent accidental sharing.
• No food sharing.

CLEANING & DISINFECTION

We practice regular cleaning and disinfection on a daily basis and will continue to do so to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 and other highly infections diseases from contaminating staff, students, objects and surfaces in accordance with the BC Centre for Disease Control’s Cleaning and Disinfectants for Public Settings document. This includes:

• Continuing to practice general cleaning and disinfecting of the premises each day.
• Cleaning objects that have been in contact with bodily fluids (mucous, saliva, etc.) immediately and between uses by different children. If this is not possible, the objects are set aside, in a “to be washed” bin, until they are cleaned and disinfected.
• Cleaning and disinfecting frequently-touched shared surfaces (e.g. door knobs, light switches, toilet handles, tables, desks, chairs, electronic devices, keyboards and other materials) twice per day.
• Continuing to clean and disinfect any surface that is visibly dirty as necessary.
• Continuing to use common, commercially-available detergents and disinfectant products and closely follow the instructions on the label.
• Continuing to empty garbage containers daily.
• Continuing to wear disposable gloves when cleaning blood or body fluids (e.g. runny nose, vomit, stool, urine).
• Washing hands before wearing and after removing gloves.
• Cleaning washrooms daily keeping in line with the high touch surface area protocols.
• Continuing to provide paper hand towels rather than hand dryers.
• Clean areas that have been in contact with individuals who were in the facility and had to leave due to COVID 19 symptoms including surfaces they may have touched, immediately upon their departure.

According to the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC), there is no evidence that the COVID-19 virus is transmitted via textbooks, paper or other paper-based products. As such, there is no need to limit the distribution of books or paper based educational resources to students because of COVID-19.

MUSIC / PHYSICAL & HEALTH EDUCATION / OUTDOOR / FOOD & CULINARY / ART / OTHER SHARED EQUIPMENT PROGRAMS

Students are encouraged to practice proper hand hygiene before and after shared equipment use. Equipment that touches the mouth (e.g.,  water bottles, utensils) or has been in contact with bodily fluids will not be shared unless cleaned and disinfected in between uses.

MENTAL HEALTH

The school follows trauma-informed practices, a compassionate lens of understanding that is helpful to all children, youth and adults, especially those who have experienced traumatic events including the emotional and traumatic impact of a pandemic.

Trauma-informed practice includes:

• Providing inclusive and compassionate learning environments
• Understanding coping strategies
• Supporting independence
• Helping to minimize additional stress or trauma by addressing individual needs of students and staff
• The school recognizes that some students may have experienced elements of trauma during the pandemic. Educators and support staff are advised to be aware of changes in student behaviour, including trauma-related behaviours which may include fear; hyperactivity; aggression; body aches and pain; depression; self-harming behaviours; excessive shyness; or withdrawal.

The school uses and observes the the Ministry’s trauma-informed practice resources as well as erase (Expect Respect and a Safe Education) guidelines.